The Blood Contract
Chapter 26: Did she just mark him?

Chapter 26: Did she just mark him?

It was already two hours after Lucian arrived at the house that Dr. Marlowe returned with a completely wasted Serena.

Serena’s unsteady steps and Dr. Marlowe’s firm grip on her waist were the first signs that something was amiss.

After ordering the wine at the restaurant, it had taken only one glass for Dr. Marlowe to realize that Serena had a very low alcohol tolerance. The way her cheeks flushed and her laughter grew louder with each sip was a clear indicator.

Dr. Marlowe had decided to make her stop drinking at that point. But Serena, stubborn and defiant, had insisted on downing a second glass. She couldn’t even finish it before the signs of intoxication hit her like a tidal wave. Her speech slurred, her movements became clumsy, and her balance faltered.

The moment they stepped through the gates of the mansion, Lucian was alerted via the surveillance screen in his room. The grainy black-and-white footage showed Dr. Marlowe struggling to keep Serena upright, her arm wrapped firmly around the younger woman’s waist.

Lucian pushed himself up from the bed, his brow furrowed in confusion and irritation. He proceeded outside, his footsteps echoing in the quiet stairway, his mind racing with questions. Why was Dr. Marlowe holding Serena so closely? And why was Serena staggering like she could barely stand?

A gasp escaped Darrell’s lips when the two women walked into the house. "What happened to her?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern as he set his eyes on Serena, who looked completely out of touch with reality. Her hair was disheveled, her dress slightly wrinkled, and her eyes glazed over as she leaned heavily on Dr. Marlowe.

"Nothing happened to her. She just had too much to drink," Dr. Marlowe responded curtly, her tone firm but not unkind. She guided Serena toward the stairs, her movements steady despite the weight of the younger woman leaning on her.

At the foot of the stairs, Dr. Marlowe looked up and saw Lucian coming down. He paused mid-step, his sharp eyes landing on them. His gaze lingered on Serena for a moment, taking in her disheveled appearance and the way she swayed unsteadily. Then his eyes shifted to Dr. Marlowe, a silent question in his expression. All the confusion about what was going on with Serena disappeared the moment he saw her up close. She was drunk to the point of stupor, and he didn’t need a soothsayer to tell him that.

"Mr. Draven, please help me take her to her room," Dr. Marlowe said, her voice calm but insistent. She knew it would be a chore to guide Serena all the way to the top floor by herself, especially with the way the younger woman was stumbling.

Lucian didn’t wait a second longer. He closed the distance between them in a few swift strides and scooped Serena up effortlessly in a bridal style. What he didn’t expect was her sudden reaction. She grabbed onto him as if her life depended on it, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck.

"Hey, how come I’m flying all of a sudden?" Serena uttered, her voice slurred and her words slightly incoherent. She frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion as she felt her legs leave the ground.

Lucian said nothing, his jaw tightening as he carried her up the stairs. But Serena’s voice reached his ears again, soft and teasing.

"Why do you smell so good?" she murmured, her face moving closer to his body. She rubbed her cheek against his bare chest, her skin warm against his. "Ahh... I could eat you whole, and I’d still not be satisfied," she muttered, her words sending a jolt through him.

Lucian’s grip tightened around her body, his muscles tensing as he fought to keep his composure. Her words were hitting him in ways he could barely handle, and the fact that her speech was slurred didn’t help matters at all. To add fuel to the already burning fire, she was running her face against his chest, her breath warm and her touch intoxicating.

But he didn’t stop moving. Instead, he hastened his steps, determined to get her to her room before he lost control of himself and diverted her to his own. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, but he kept his eyes forward, his steps purposeful. Dr. Marlowe trailed behind him, her presence a silent reminder of the need for restraint.

His steps came to an abrupt halt, however, when he felt Serena’s teeth come down hard on the skin of his chest. The sharp bite sent a shockwave through him, and he froze, his breath catching in his throat.

"Mr. Draven, please don’t pay attention to whatever she’s saying. She’s drunk, remember?" Dr. Marlowe spoke from behind him, her voice calm but firm. She had noticed how he had stopped moving, and her words were a gentle reminder to stay focused.

’Nooo... She isn’t just saying anymore. She’s now doing, and my body is screaming at me to respond,’ Lucian screamed in his head, his mind racing. He couldn’t believe she had just bitten him. Drunk or not, she should never tease him like that because he was on the verge of losing control.

Taking a deep breath, he continued to her room, his steps quick and determined. He hurried like never before, his heart pounding in his chest, until he finally arrived and slowly let her down on the bed.

"Noo... Where are you going? Come stay with me tonight," Serena complained, her voice soft and pleading as she reached out for him. But Lucian hastened his steps out of the room, his resolve barely holding.

He locked gazes with Dr. Marlowe for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them, before he moved away from the vicinity and into his own room.

His mind was reeling from the heated experience he had just endured, his body still humming with the lingering effects of her touch.

Lowering his gaze, he examined the teeth marks on his chest. A short, disbelieving laugh escaped his lips.

"Did she just mark me?" he muttered to himself, his voice a mix of amusement and frustration.

He had prepared himself to give her a very good scolding for going somewhere without at least letting him know. Who knew he would lose his composure without even getting the chance to get a word out—and even get bitten in the process?

Meanwhile, back in Serena’s room, Dr. Marlowe let out a breath of relief when she saw that the girl had calmed down considerably and was already dozing off. Serena’s breathing had evened out, her face relaxed in sleep, and the tension in the room slowly dissipated.

Dr. Marlowe waited for a few more minutes, ensuring that Serena was completely asleep, before moving to grab the girl’s handbag. Her movements were careful and deliberate, her mind focused on the task at hand.

The moment Dr. Marlowe had learned that Serena and Vincent shared a close bond, she realized that they were bound for trouble if Serena kept in touch with him. Vincent was Lucian’s sworn enemy, and any connection between him and Serena could spell disaster for all of them.

To avoid a situation that would complicate things further, Dr. Marlowe reached into Serena’s bag and took out the card that Vincent had given her earlier that day. She slipped it into her pocket, her expression grim but resolute.